Toothbrush pack



May 26, 1942. R. H. LIEBERTHAL TOOTHBRUSH PACK ,Filed Feb. 27, 1941 4 H I I. 2,. v v 0 v .n f U A V .x, 4..

Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Too'rmuwsn rscx Robert a. Lieberthal, Bridgeport, Conn. Application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,765 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-84) This invention relates to a tooth brush pack comprising a body or holder for a collapsible tube tohold a dentifrice, a brush with means to hold the brush with its bristle head in position to receive the dentifrice from the nozzle of the tube, and an enclosing casing or shell to receive and protect the holder, brush and tube to forma neat compact package for carrying in a hand or traveling bag.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a pack of improved construction in which the brush and other elements are effectively protected and kept clean and sanitary, and in which efi'ective ventilation is provided for quickly drying the brush after use. Another object is to provide a construction in which the collapsible tube may be easily and quicklyremoved and a new one placed in position, and to provide an improved means for mounting the tooth brush and making it easily available for use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised the device illustrated in the accompaniying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is however to be understood that I am not limited to the specific construction and arrangement shown, but may employ various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pack complete with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof looking from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view casing removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the outer shell or casing removed and with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the body or holder with the cover or plate for the dental floss compartment moved to one side for renewal of the dental floss;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on line 1-1 of Fig; 4;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the sh casing substantially on line 8-0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9is a side elevation of one end portionof with the outer shell or 'the shell or casing with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 10 is a partial side elevation and partial longitudinal section of the lower portion of the holder showing a somewhat modified construction; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse section substantially on line ll-ll of Fig. 10 on an enlarged scale. The pack includes a body or holder l2 of any suitable material, preferably of molded plastic, and it has an open topped longitudinal groove or recess II in its top wall or edge to receive a standard small size collapsible tube It for a dentifrice, such as tooth paste, having the usual discharge nozzle I! closed with the usual cap, not shown. At one end of this recess is an end wall it having an open top recess I! to receive the nozzle l5 and locate it in proper position for use. Means is provided for retaining the collapsible tube in the longitudinal recess ii, a convenient way of mounting it being a spring clip l8 se ured in-the groove l3 and anchored therein by any suitable means, such for example as a rivet l9 molded into the plastic material of the body. This spring clip effectively holds the collapsible tube in position in such a way that it may be readily compressed to force the tooth paste through the nozzle l5, and the tube of paste may be easily and quickly inserted to bring it to proper position, and after the paste has been exhausted can be easily and quickly removed and a new filled tube inserted in its place. The end wall It cooperating with the endof the tube forms an effective locating means for properly locating the tube longitudinally of the holder with the nozzle Ii projecting beyond this wall and the notch or recess l1 locates the nozzle transversely of the holder.

At the opposite or lower edge of the body is a longitudinal groove or recess 20 to receive the handle 2| of a tooth brush having a bristle head 1 22. Improved means are provided for holding this brush in the groove, in the present case comprising pins 23 molded in the plastic of the body and projecting inwardly from the side walls of the groove or recess 20 to enter the longitudinal groove 24 in the opposite side edges of the handie 2|. These grooves 24 pass out through the free end of the handle so that the handle may he slid longitudinally into the recess 20 to receive the pins 23, which effectively hold it in position with the bristle head 22 under the nozzle IS in position to receive the dentifrice, such as the tooth paste pressed from this nozzle. After receiving the paste the brush may be drawn out longitudinally from the recess 20 for use. The bristle head 22 is of improved construction to retain the dentifrice in that it has side and end bristles 25 and 26 of greater length than the central bristles 21 forming a sort of recess or receptacle to receive the paste and hold it in proper position for use, the longer bristles effectively working it into the crevices or spaces between the teeth.

The body may also be utilized to carry a coil of dental fioss indicated at 28 in a suitable compartment 29 extending from one end of the body. This is closed by a closure plate 30 of any suitable material, preferably stainless steel, pivoted to the end wall of the body by a hollow rivet 32 and having a notch 23 for withdrawal of the floss for use. It may also have a knife 34 for cutting the floss and a nub 35 forced inwardly from its outer wall to seat in the recess 35 in the plastic material to yieldingly hold the closure in closed position, and an outwardly pressed pro- I lugs of the clip will snap into this groove. This jection 31 to form a sort of grip for swinging the closure to uncover the compartment for insertion of the coil of dental fioss'.

The body may also have a compartment 38 to receive a lipstick, or other cosmetic such as material to prevent chapping of the lips, indi-- cated at 39 mounted in a suitable holder 40 seated in the open end of the compartment and having a handle 4| for use. This compartment may be located in the opposite end from the compartment 29, or, if preferred, the two compartments 29 and 38 could be arranged side by side in the right hand end of the body.

This assembled holder with the tube of paste, brush and other accessories makes a very neat and compact arrangement and is enclosed in a shell or casing 42. This may be made of various suitable materials, but is preferably made of a non-metallic plastic for sanitary reasons and because it may be made of difierent colors for appearances. It is of general tubular cross section to correspond with the shape of the body l2 and is' open at the right hand end so that the body with the assembled elements may he slid into the shell or casing. It may have notches 43 in the side walls at its open end in alignment with recesses 44 in the sides of the body l2 to facilitate gripping the body for withdrawing it and the elements carried thereby from the shell or casing for use. Ventilating openings 45 and 46 are provided in the sides and top of the shell or casing adjacent the bristle head 22, and the shell or casing is made sufliciently high so there is a longitudinal space 41 provided over the collapsible tube l4 leading to the hollow rivet 52. This arrangement of ventilating openings has been found to cause eifective circulation of air through the casing and over the brush to quickly dry the bristles after use and keep them in a sanitary and clean dry condition.

In Figs. 10 and 11 is shown a slight modification, particularly in the manner of mounting the tooth brush in the body. In this case, the groove or recess 48 in the lower edge of the body is extended throughout the length of the body and receives the handle 49 of the brush. Mounted in the recess 48 is a hinge comprising mounting member 50 and another plate member 5| pivoted thereto at 52. On the plate 5| is a spring clip 53 which may be made by bending up and over lugs on the edges of the plate 5|. These are arranged to embrace the reduced end of the hinge holds the brush in position with the bristle head 22 properly located to receive the dentifrice from the nozzle I5, and then it may be withdrawn from the holder for use by withdrawing it from the hinge or it may be swung downwardly and to the right to project from the right hand end of the body in alignment with the groove 45 for use without detaching it, and after use again swung back into the compact position shown in Fig, 10. This modified construction is adapted to be enclosed in the shell or casing 42 the same as the first form.

It will be evident that this provides a very neat compact pack or package which will require. a minimum of space within a hand bag or traveling bag, that as there is no metal in contact with the brush or paste. the body and casing being of non-metallic or plastic material, there will be no corrosion and it may be easily kept clean and sanitary. The ventilating arrangement for the shell or casing permits circulation of air to quickly and effectively dry the bristles of the brush and maintain the brush in a clean, dry, sanitary condition.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination a body having a longitudinal open topped recess in its top wall to receive a collapsible tube of dentifrice having a discharge nozzle at one end, said body having a longitudinal recess below said first recess to receive the handle of a tooth brush, pins projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the recess, a tooth brush having a bristle head and a handleslidable longitudinally in said second recess to bring said bristle head to a position under the nozzle to receive dentifrice therefrom, and longitudinal grooves in the side of the handle to receive said pins to retain the handle in the said recess.

2. In combination a body having a longitudinal open topped recess in its top wall to receive a collapsible tube of dentifrice having a discharge nozzle at one end, said body having a longitudinal recess below said first recess to receive the handle of a tooth brush, a tooth brush having a bristle head and a handle adapted to be received in said second recess, and a hinge in said recess having a spring clip to receive and grip the handle to retain it in the recess with the bristle head in position to receive dentifrice from said nozzle and permit swinging of the brush from the recess into position for use of the brush.

3. In combination a body of molded plastic having a longitudinal open topped groove in its a coil of dental floss, a closure for said recesscomprising a plate, a hollow rivet in the end of the body to pivotally mount said plate and provide a ventilating opening, and said shell having ventilating openings adjacent said bristle head to permit circulation of air through said rivet to dry the bristles.

ROBERT 

